A HOMELESS thief who broke into small businesses including a blood bank to steal cash to feed himself was spared jail.

Recorder of Liverpool Judge Clement Goldstone QC yesterday told Ian Inglesby, 33, he was giving him a chance to “work with the system rather than against it” by suspending a nine month jail sentence for two years.

At a previous hearing at Liverpool Crown Court Inglesby told the judge: “I don’t like doing this s--t. I do it because nobody helps me – I keep getting in this position.”

The former soldier pleaded guilty to eight burglaries at hotels, bars and the blood centre in a 12-day spree last August.